Beatles Book:

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Editorial Review:
Liverpool, The 5th Beatle, An African-American Odyssey is a perspective on the rise of the Liverpool Mersey Sound and the Beatles by someone who drank in the same pubs and played in the same clubs as the Beatles. Mr. Pitts delves much deeper than the average rock journalist to present an amazingly original comparison of Liverpool with Black America of the 1950s and '60s, giving us an insight into how the social and musical conditions in our Black-American community found a direct heart-beat amongst the Liverpool youth who were singularly responsible for the rise of the Mersey Sound and the incredible success of the Beatles. Not only is his book inspiring to minority groups throughout America, but his novel insight into the Beatles and the ghetto conditions in which the Mersey Sound began has stirred avid interest in people of all ages who are mesmerized by the truth behind the Beatles' legend.

Liverpool The 5th Beatle : An African-American Odyssey Reviews:
Beatles info is scarce here
2009-07-13 - This book is more for a person interested in Liverpool's Merseybeat era than for Beatles fans. Although I found some parts of this book to be intersting, there are a couple of flaws that hurt this book considerably and make me wonder about the rest of it.

First, the author tells about the musicians that suffered from drug abuse and the suicides of both Rory Storm and Brian Epstein. Neither of these people commited suicide. Rory died of respitory illness and Brian died of an accidental overdose of prescription medication. Neither were ever deemed to be suicide.

Second, he attempts to parralell the lives of poor Liverpudlian Whites and the American Blacks. I have no way of knowing what life was like for the poor of Liverpool just as the author has no idea of what life is like for the poor Blacks in America. When you write a book, stick to a subject that you are knowledgable in. He failed miserably here.

I enjoyed parts of this book because I am a fan of the music of that era, but no one in their right mind should pay more that a few dollars for it. I guess some people think that just because a book has the word 'Beatles' in the title and being out of print, it should command a high price. This is NOT a book that will appreciate in value. It's just not that good.

Also, 'Beatles' shouldn't have been used in the title of this book. That's just a cash grab

Worst Attempt to Cash in on the Beatles
2004-04-20 - This is a self-serving waste of paper (mostly filler photos & anecdotes, less that 50 pages of "new" text). The author should stick to his fiction & autobiography. By far the worst piece of work on the Beatles ever published that I've ever read. My suggestion to this author is to stop trying to cash in on the Beatles!

"About the Author:  Prem Willis-Pitts was born and raised in Liverpool. Ringo Starr worked with his father, he had a girlfriend in common with Paul McCartney and he replaced George Harrison in a band that George left to join the Beatles. He saw the Beatles perform hundreds of times in Liverpool."

What evidence supports these claims other than the constant mention that his dad worked with Ringo?  He includes a few photos of himself playing guitar, but there's no mention of when or where they were taken? It's a poor attempt to win credibility with potential buyers!  Sadly, this ability to play on the sympathies of readers keeps popping up thoughout the book.

The "editorial reviews" suggest cheap name-dropping over substance. Louise Harrison left Liverpool long before Merseybeat so how would she know if this book discusses "the reality behind the Beatles' formation and background"? What information does the author mention about the city and Beatles that Sam Leach, self-professed Beatles manager "pre Brian Epstein," did not already know? It's nice to have these "quotes" from "famous" people, but they mean nothing!

The best "quote" is that the book was "wonderfully researched." Where are the sources (other than a brief list at the end)? A 300 page book, filled with photos, many irrelevant even to the text at hand; photos are used as filler - check the viewable excerpts! Some ideas are good, such as those about the local dialect, the influence of the Irish, and the comparisons with Black America, but these comments are made out of hand with no evidence to support such claims.

He claims Liverpool 8 was the "Irish ghetto" of his childhood, yet it was a Black ghetto within a decade.  How did such a fast transformation happen?  Was it Black or Irish?  Or both?  If it was both, why dismiss the Irish when it suits his argument?

In "Drugs and Rock `n Roll - Opening for The Beatles" several unrelated photos are used to "enhance" the writing. How does a recent photo of the Casablanca Club (or the girl standing in front of the club) relate to the chapter? Or the two large photos from the late 80s? All filler and no substance! The photos (like many other "recent" ones), are from the 80s, yet the book was published in 2000, and the subject is the 1960s! Makes you wonder when Mr. Willis-Pitts was last in Liverpool.

The anecdote of "opening for the Beatles" recollects an attempt to get some cheap drugs, and subsequent attempt to play while trying to stay high. Most posters of the concerts do not mention the Beatles, so who is to say they performed at the same show? The Beatles only headlined 1 of the posters! And he was higher than a kite!

He also distanced himself from the violence he describes, yet was willing to "have a go" at a racist drunken Londoner who fled once confronted by a Scouse accent! It's a thin line between violence and... as ever the moralist author always makes sure he's on the right side in the end! Discussing drugs and what they did to him and his friends is another example. He acknowledges that the lives of several associates were destroyed by drugs, yet describing how he was strong enough to leave it all behind when he chose to is a patronizing end to yet another self-serving story. How can anybody so drugged, as he constantly claimed to be, remember all of these details?

The worst drivel is his psycho-babble that claims to be an understanding of the Beatles through their marriages. John and "iconoclastic" Yoko; Paul and Yuppie Linda; George's fantasy to follow Paul by marrying model Patti Boyd (BEFORE Paul got married!!); and poor Ringo marrying at his "peasant" level.

His generalizations of people from Liverpool are disgraceful. He argues that it is stereotyping, then details how Scousers are supposedly violent and unruly, deceptive and full of "shady" dealings since any item is "fair game," and thus do absolutely anything given the opportunity! I won't mention the obvious errors in his comments on football. Writing this book proves he grabbed his own opportunity here!

The book has merits. It's interesting to see a portrayal of the city from somebody who did not achieve fame or fortune (sadly it seems an attempt to win both was the reason for writing the book!). If there is one good use, then it's the few interviews done with musicians from the time.

Overall, a frustrating read which I will NEVER pick up again.  Unless you collect absolutely everything about the Beatles, don't waste your time or money on this. I suggest the author stick to his fiction and autobiographical work, and leave the historical events to the historians. Anybody interested in the history of Liverpool's music scene should read Wondrous Place by Paul du Noyer.  It covers the 1950s to the present, but every page is worth reading, there are few photos to fill pages, and only a page or two of "personal anecdotes" by the author, though they relate to the book.

What's next?  Ringo's first wife's nephew writes of the family reunion at a Who concert while cousin Zak was playing drums for Roger and the boys! I'm sure Ringo wouldn't be there, but he could get a few mentions and a front cover photo!!  And if that sells like this book, it's proof that you CAN fool some of the people all of the time!  My suggestion to this author: give a rest to any attempt to cash in on the Beatles and concentrate on other things!!

COME TOGETHER
2001-12-04 - The writing is crisp, sharp and clear. The author does an excellent job of bringing the black neighborhoods of Liverpool to the world's collective attention. He also had the unique advantage of having an indirect connection with a Beatle -- his father and Ringo were coworkers!

The influence of black musicians on rock and roll has been well documented. Spirituals and the blues segued into rock and roll. In a recent interview, Paul McCartney himself said had it not been for the black musical pioneers, he and most other musicians would never have achieved the level of accomplishment they have today.

A riveting, well researched book. The Beatles and their music brought people together and were certainly a unifying force among the masses. I think this is something that will be treasured by all.

A fascinating comparison of Liverpool with Black America
2001-02-21 - P. Willis-Pitts was raised in a Liverpool black ghetto and become a rock musician at the time of the Mersey Sound phenomenon. He draws upon his own unique background (Ringo Starr worked with his father) to provide an insider's perspective on the rise of the Liverpool Mersy Sound as one who played in the same pubs, with the same bands, and hung out with the same people as did the Beatles. Liverpool, The 5th Beatle presents a fascinating comparison of Liverpool with Black America of the 1950s and 60s, providing insights into how the social and musical conditions in the African-American community found a direct reflection among the Liverpool Irish youth (including the Beatles) who were singularly responsible for the rise of the Mersey Sound and the resultant British invasion of the American music scene. Liverpool, The 5th Beatle is "must" reading for all Beatles fans and students of American popular music.

Liverpool, The Fifth Beatle
2000-09-27 - An engrossing eyewitness account of how and why the unique clash of heritages, races, and music in Liverpool spawned the Beatles. The writing is vivid and rhythmic, perceptive and humorous, robust and textured. The photographs lend a stark, unadorned realism to the words on the pages. Full of adventure, wit, and astute social commentary that recounts Liverpool's history in terms of its parallels with the underclasses of American society and its lessons for our future.